Coast to Coast gets National Trail Status (2025)
The decision to launch Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk as a new National Trail, now earmarked for 2026, has meant that there will be a number of changes that affect current guides, like “A Coast to Coast Route Guide”. We hope to help simplify and share these changes.
Firstly and in particular, the decision to create a National Trail has meant that a single continuous route has been selected as THE Coast to Coast Route. In general, the route chosen is easier overall than previous route options. Some of Wainwrights “optional” or “alternative” routes have been dropped as a result. They still exist, of course, and there is no reason why you might not choose them for your own journey. In some cases Wainwright’s preferred route has been dropped (e.g. as on the approach to Grasmere). The new route will be well waymarked and maintained.
In order to safeguard the new single route, several miles of new “rights of way” have been created along the route where those rights didn’t exist before. In general this makes little difference to the walking route on the ground.
At least one brand new section of footpath has been created (on the approach to Ennerdale Water)
Some slight variants to the current route have been introduced to make the route clearer and easier (e.g. leaving Black Sail Hut in Ennerdale).
A couple of brand new alternative routes has been created (e.g.on the “alternative” riverside option following the River Swale beyond Gunnerside, and the crossing of Sleights Moor).
In total, the changes to the currently established primary route (as shown as a continuous Red line in the Route Guide) are few, but in some cases significant, which is why we wish to draw your attention to these changes.
You can view the maps WITH the changes marked clearly below. The changes are marked with a Yellow line with a dotted red centre:
We suggest you consider marking these in the Route Guide using a yellow highlighter pen, so that you are aware of them as you walk the trail (don’t forget to insert some blank sheets between the Roue Guide pages to avoid smudging whilst the highlighter dries). You can then decide which are important and which are not.
Clicking on the map links below will open the accompanying map in a seperate window.